Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;spring&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Spring’, characterized by its quilled decorative-type inflorescences that are about 6.6 cm in diameter; attractive light pink-colored ray florets; early flowering, response time about 51 days; dark green foliage; strong stems; and good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for at least three weeks in an interior environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Spring’.

[0002] The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars havinginflorescences with desirable colors and good form and substance.

[0003] The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross made by theInventor in December, 1993, in Salinas, Calif., of a proprietaryChrysanthemum seedling selection identified as 0994, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Chrysanthemum seedlingselection identified as 1639, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent.

[0004] The cultivar Spring was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif., in April, 1995. The selectionof this plant was based on its desirable inflorescence colors and goodform and substance.

[0005] Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminalcuttings taken in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., has shownthat the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The cultivar Spring has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0007] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Spring’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Spring’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

[0008] 1. Quilled decorative-type inflorescences that are about 6.6 cmin diameter.

[0009] 2. Attractive light pink-colored ray florets.

[0010] 3. Early flowering, response time about 51 days.

[0011] 4. Dark green foliage.

[0012] 5. Thick and strong stems.

[0013] 6. Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaininggood substance and color for at least three weeks in an interiorenvironment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0014] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overallappearance of the new Chrysanthemum, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum. The photograph on the first sheetcomprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of‘Spring’ grown as a spray-type cut Chrysanthemum. The photograph on thesecond sheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of‘Spring’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0015] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif., underconditions which approximate commercial practice in a double-layerpolyethylene-covered greenhouse. Two-week old rooted cuttings wereplanted on Jun. 7, 2000 and received 12 long day/short nights followedby short day/long nights until flowering. Plants were grown assingle-stem spray-type cut chrysanthemums. During the production time,the following environmental conditions were measured: day temperatures,18 to 27° C.; night temperatures, 16 to 18° C.; and light levels, 2,000to 4,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values representaverages for six to ten typical flowering stems and were taken duringthe week of Aug. 25, 2000.

[0016] Botanical Classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivarSpring.

[0017] Commercial Classification: Quilled decorative-type cutChrysanthemum.

[0018] Parentage:

[0019]Female or seed parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifoliumseedling selection identified as code number 0994, not patented.

[0020]Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum X morifoliumseedling selection identified as code number 1639, not patented

[0021] Propagation:

[0022]Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

[0023]Time to rooting.—Seven to ten days with soil temperatures of 21°C.

[0024]Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

[0025] Plant Description:

[0026]Appearance.—Herbaceous quilled decorative-type cut flower.

[0027]Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 94 cm.Diameter: About 7.5 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.Foliage description: Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 9.8 cm.Width: About 8.7 cm. Apex: Cuspidate to mucronate. Base: Mostlytruncate. Margin: Palmately lobed; sinuses convergent and overlapping.Texture: Upper and lower surfaces pubescent; veins prominent on lowersurface. Color: Young foliage upper surface: 147A. Young foliage lowersurface: 147B. Mature foliage upper surface: 147A; venation, close to147B. Mature foliage lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to147B to 147C. Petiole: Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.2 mm.Color: Close to 147B.

[0028] Flowering Description:

[0029]Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with elongatedquilled-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals, arisingfrom leaf axils. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on acapitulum.

[0030]Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to about two weeks of long day/short night conditions afterplanting followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditionsflower about 51 days later.

[0031]Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment, floweringstems will maintain good color and substance for at least three weeks inan interior environment after one week of cool storage.

[0032]Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering with about 17inflorescences per flowering stem.

[0033]Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.6 cm. Depth (height): About2.2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 8 mm. Diameter of receptacle: About 8.5mm.

[0034]Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated, quilled. Length: About 3.1 cm.Width: About 5 mm. Corolla tube length: About 2.6 cm. Corolla tubewidth, at base: About 1.5 mm. Apex: Rounded, mamillate or emarginate.Base: Fused. Texture: Satiny, smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Initiallyupright and incurved to mostly straight and flat with development; whenmature, rays upright, about 45° from vertical. Number of ray florets perinflorescence: About 224 arranged in numerous rows. Color: When opening,upper and lower surfaces: Initially, light yellowish green, 154D;becoming light green, 145C to 145D; then becoming white, 155D. Mature,outside of tube: White, 155D, ground color, overlain with 77A; overalltonality, 75A to 75C. Mature, inside of tube: White, 155D, ground color,overlain with 77A; overall tonality, 75B to 75C.

[0035]Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; slightly flared at apex. Length:About 7 mm. Width: Apex: About 1.5 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of discflorets per inflorescence: Massed at center of receptacle, about 51.Color: Immature: 144A to 154A. Mature: Apex: 9A. Mid-section and base:155D.

[0036]Peduncle.—Aspect: Strong, angled about 45 to 50° from vertical.Length: First peduncle: About 8.3 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 11.7 cm.Seventh peduncle: About 14.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Veryfine pubescence. Color: 146A.

[0037]Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only.Anther color: 9A. Amount of pollen: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color:15A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.

[0038]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0039] Disease Resistance: Resistance to pathogens common toChrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under commercialconditions.

[0040] Temperature Tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum havedemonstrated good tolerance to night temperatures as low as 5° C. andday temperatures lower than 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Spring’, as illustrated and described.